Onimusha Dawn of Dreams test of valor: Rankings & Guide

Test of Valor challenges are timed combat trials found throughout Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams. Each trial assigns a specific objective, such as defeating a target, performing combat techniques, collecting souls, or protecting civilians. Completing the objective grants a rank based on performance, and each rank has its own reward.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze rewards are handled separately. If Gold or Silver rewards have already been collected on the same playthrough, repeating that challenge can provide the Bronze item instead. This makes the trials useful both as one-time reward activities and as repeatable combat practice.

The challenges are not all available immediately. Some appear during the initial route, while others activate only after revisiting an area. Later trials also require specific story progress, including challenges marked for Stage 11 onward.

The largest group of trials uses a destruction objective. These challenges may require defeating every enemy in an area, killing a named target, or eliminating several copies of a particular Genma. Some target-based trials spawn additional enemies, so focusing only on the named opponent can leave you exposed to unnecessary damage.

Technique trials test execution rather than simple damage output. Critical and Finisher challenges count individual successful actions, while Chain Critical challenges count completed chains rather than every hit inside a chain. For that reason, repeated short opportunities are often safer than forcing a long sequence against a dangerous enemy.

Soul absorption trials use continuously respawning Genma. The goal is to absorb a set number of souls before the timer expires. A Gyaran can interfere with the process, and souls gained through a soul bonus do not count toward the required total. Protect-the-target trials work differently: two humans must survive for the duration, and the challenge fails if either target reaches zero HP.

How to prepare for each objective

• Destruction trials: Equip a weapon or ability that reaches several enemies quickly, then keep a recovery item available.
• Critical trials: Choose enemies with readable attack patterns and avoid killing them before enough counted actions are completed.
• Finisher trials: Weaken enemies first, but leave enough targets alive to perform all required Finishers.
• Soul trials: Defeat enemies where their souls can be absorbed without crossing through a dangerous group.
• Protection trials: Keep moving between the two targets instead of chasing one enemy across the arena.

The following tables organize all 30 Tests of Valor by location. “Revisit” identifies a challenge that requires returning to an area, while “Stage 11+” identifies a trial that becomes available later in the story. Rank conditions are summarized from the listed challenge requirements; when a condition uses both time and damage, both limits matter for the highest rank.

Notable rank benchmarks

Several trials have especially strict Gold conditions. The Plains Outpost Gacha challenge asks for a clear under 30 seconds with damage kept below its listed limit. The Sawayama Castle Green Genma General trial uses a sub-20-second Gold target. The Abandoned Village Menteith trial also expects a very fast clear, with Gold listed below 30 seconds.

Protection trials use a different scoring model. Their Gold condition is based on damage received rather than completion speed, because the challenge is built around surviving for a fixed duration. Damage taken by the protected targets does not count toward the player’s damage total as long as they survive.

Use the following process when attempting a new trial. It is designed to reduce wasted attempts and clarify whether a failed Gold result came from timing, damage, or objective execution.

The reward structure gives each trial a reason to revisit. Gold rewards generally include weapons, armor-related equipment, rings, or other high-value items, while Silver and Bronze rewards commonly include medicine, herbs, mushrooms, or similar supplies. Because rewards are tiered, a failed Gold attempt still contributes toward learning the challenge and securing a lower rank.

Some named rewards include the Black Sword, Ice Rifle, Sky Sword, Horn of Susano, Meteor Shower, Orochi, Star Killer, and Lucifer’s Gauntlets. The exact value of each item depends on the rest of your equipment and current story progress, so prioritize the trials that complement your preferred combat style.

Efficient completion order

A practical route is to clear ordinary destruction trials first, then return for technique and protection challenges. Destruction trials help familiarize you with enemy layouts, while technique trials reward more deliberate execution. Soul trials are best attempted after you understand the local enemy cycle, since uncontrolled movement can waste the timer.

For completion tracking, write down the location, objective, rank, and reward claimed. This is especially useful for revisit-only challenges at the Fortress at Suruga, Sawayama Castle Town, Mt. Hiei, Azuchi Castle, Western Hospital, Sakai Facility, City of Sakai, Abandoned Village, and Nagoya Castle.